essed hath been my life; and time it is
That unto God God's creature should return;
Yea, I desire to die, and be with Christ."
Thus speaking, he rejoiced till evening's shades
Darkened around us. That disciple young
Once more addressed him, "Still one verse remains;"
The master answered, "Write, and write with speed;"
And dictated. The young man wrote; then said,
"'Tis finished now." The man of God replied:
"Well say'st thou, son, ''tis finished.' In thy hands
Receive my head, and move it gently round,
For comfort great it is, and joy in death,
Thus, on this pavement of my little cell,
Facing that happy spot whereon so oft
In prayer I knelt, to sit once more in prayer,
Thanking my Father." "Glory," then he sang,
"To God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;"
And with that latest Name upon his lips
Passed to the Heavenly Kingdom.'
Thus with joy
Died holy Bede upon Ascension Day
In Jarrow Convent. May he pray for us,
And all who read his annals of God's Church
In England housed, his great bequest to man!

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See Montalembert's 'Moines de l'Occident,' vol. iii. p. 343; and
also Burke: 'On the Continent the Christian religion, after the northern
irruptions, not only remained but flourished.... In England it was so
entirely extinguished that when Augustine undertook his mission, it does
not appear that among all the Saxons there was a single person
professing Christianity.'

[2] Tacitus. The German's wife might well be called his 'helpmate.' His
wedding gift to his bride consisted of a horse, a yoke of oxen, a lance
and a sword.

[3] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, pp. 79, 80. (Bell and Daldy, 1873.)
Burke records this tradition with an entire credence. See note in p.
288.

[4] _Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_, chap. x.

[5] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, pp. 88, 89.

[6] P. 89.

[7] P. 100.

[8] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, p. 103.

[9] _The Prose Edda._

[10] _Northern Antiquities_: the Editor, T. A. Blackwell.

[11] P. 474.

[12] P. 475.

[13] T. A. Blackwell. See Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, p. 476.

[14] 'This (Christianity), as it introduced great mildness into the
tempers of the people, made them less warlike, and consequently prepared
the way to their forming one body.'--Burke, _An Abridgment of English
History_, book ii. chap. iii.

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